Content Area(s): Physical Sciences, Engineering, Technology & Application of Science Topic: Testing bridges for safety Short description: A team of engineers have discovered that a bridge ‘sings’ when it is being pelted with rain. The sounds can indicate serious flaws in the structure when analyzed with current impact-echo testing technology.
Claim: Impact-echo testing of falling water could become the best way to monitor bridge safety.
Keywords: bridge safety testing Difficulty of Concept: Easy
MS-ETS1 Engineering Design
MS- ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/Literacy
RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
A team of engineers from Brigham Young University (BYU) think they have found a way to test the decks of bridges quickly and much easier than the current methods. The standard test used is called "impact-echo testing", in which the deck of the bridge is hit with a hammer, or driven over by a truck dragging heavy chains. The hammer or chains cause vibrations in the metal and concrete. Scientists can listen to the echoes and detect flaws. Scientists noticed that when rain hits a bridge, it also makes noise (some people call say the bridge is "singing"). Can the noise from falling water work the same as sound from hammers or chains?
Professors Brian Mazzeo and Spencer Guthrie of BYU say that lab tests show that water may be a better way to test the bridges for safety. Mazzeo and Guthrie took a section of concrete and tested it with traditional impact-echo techniques to identify the location of a known flaw. They then dropped water from 2m in the air and used a microphone to listen to the sound given off. The test detected the flaw in the same place as the traditional method. The professors don't know yet if the water test will ever be more accurate than the current way, but they are hopeful. "We would love to be able to drive over a bridge at 25 or 30 mph, spray it with water while we're driving and be able to detect all the structural flaws on the bridge," Mazzeo said. "We think there is a huge opportunity, but we need to keep improving on the physics."
Title: Bridges Singing In the Rain
Content Area(s): Physical Sciences, Engineering, Technology & Application of ScienceTopic: Testing bridges for safety
Short description: A team of engineers have discovered that a bridge ‘sings’ when it is being pelted with rain. The sounds can indicate serious flaws in the structure when analyzed with current impact-echo testing technology.
Claim: Impact-echo testing of falling water could become the best way to monitor bridge safety.
Keywords: bridge safety testing
Difficulty of Concept: Easy
Reading Level (Pit Stop 8 Article):
Flesch Reading Ease: 64.2Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 9.3
Lexile: 1180
Next Generation Science Standards:
MS-ETS1 Engineering DesignMS- ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/Literacy
RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Vocabulary Words: impact echo testing, delamination
Topic of Game Introduction Video: Do's and Don'ts: Reasonable Arguments
Link to Game Introduction Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuxfLC0Q-Jg
Full Text of Article:
A team of engineers from Brigham Young University (BYU) think they have found a way to test the decks of bridges quickly and much easier than the current methods. The standard test used is called "impact-echo testing", in which the deck of the bridge is hit with a hammer, or driven over by a truck dragging heavy chains. The hammer or chains cause vibrations in the metal and concrete. Scientists can listen to the echoes and detect flaws. Scientists noticed that when rain hits a bridge, it also makes noise (some people call say the bridge is "singing"). Can the noise from falling water work the same as sound from hammers or chains?Professors Brian Mazzeo and Spencer Guthrie of BYU say that lab tests show that water may be a better way to test the bridges for safety. Mazzeo and Guthrie took a section of concrete and tested it with traditional impact-echo techniques to identify the location of a known flaw. They then dropped water from 2m in the air and used a microphone to listen to the sound given off. The test detected the flaw in the same place as the traditional method. The professors don't know yet if the water test will ever be more accurate than the current way, but they are hopeful. "We would love to be able to drive over a bridge at 25 or 30 mph, spray it with water while we're driving and be able to detect all the structural flaws on the bridge," Mazzeo said. "We think there is a huge opportunity, but we need to keep improving on the physics."
References/Sources:
Additional Content: